Great Pyrenees Dog Breed History
The Great Pyrenees dog, also known as Le Chien de Montagne des Pyrenees or Le Chien des Pyrenees, in its native France, takes its name after the mountain range in southwestern Europe where the breed was developed and used by peasants as a livestock guardian. The most likely ancestor of this breed is a member of the Mastiff family, (a group of large dogs, not just a breed) a dog called Pyrenean Mastiff which is believed to have migrated to Europe from Asia Minor by sea and land.
Phoenician traders took these dogs along with them from Cadiz to Spain, and into the Spanish Pyrenees. Aryan hordes that migrated west left behind some of their dogs in several mountain valleys of Europe. With time, the dogs that lived in those isolated regions developed specific characteristics and new breeds were born. These breeds are Maremma, Kuvasz, Komondor, Polish Tatra, Anatolian, Akbash, and Mastin de los Pirineos.
The Pyrenean dog race has a rich working legacy that can be traced back to the Bronze Age. Fossils dating approximately 3500 BC to 1000 BC, depending on human settlement locations, were discovered. During much of its existence, the Pyrenean Mountain Dog remained a flock guardian up in the high mountains. During the 17th century however, the Great Pyrenees dog became a Court and Royal dog breed in France, which increased its popularity with all of France’s nobility. The dog was considered to be the equal of two men in usefulness, and it was used not only to guard castles and property but also to carry loads and messages across the rugged mountains.
As people began to populate the North American continent, Basque fisherman brought along with them to Newfoundland some Great Pyrenees dogs. Their dogs mixed with English black curly-coated retrievers and the Landseer Newfoundland dog breed was born. (Read more about the Newfoundland in the article called “Newfoundland dog breed history.”) The breed was used to revive the population St. Bernard dogs, which was severely depleted in Switzerland, towards the end of the 1800’s. The Great Pyrenees dog was first introduced to America by General Lafayette, in 1824. People found many uses for this breed even during the First World War. The breed standard was published in 1927, in France.
The first Great Pyrenees dog kennel was established in the States in 1931. Its owners, Mr. and Mrs. Francis V. Crane imported first-rate blood-lines from Europe and with time, they became prominent suppliers of high quality Great Pyrenees offspring. The breed was officially recognized by the AKC in the beginning of 1933. Today, the Great Pyrenees dog is a great family pet and companion, however, farmers still rely on its keen skills to guard livestock and properties.
